I am writing this blog a bit late in true Jane fashion. I swear I tried to remember to write it on time. Today was a very very busy day. I woke up a bit late, as it’s late day. I didn’t want to get out of my warm bed. We slept in the communal sleeping spot, Frida’s (Kahlo, yes) and it’s basically a big empty cabin where you plop your mattress down with your buddies and talk till way too late. Honestly, one of the best sleeps I’ve had at Vermont. I usually sleep well, but just not as long as I would love. Anyway!!! My name is Jane, this is my third and probably final (cry) year at NBTSC, but first year at Vermont. So far it’s been fun, lots of highs and lows but always fun.
Back to my day: it was time for breakfast. I think it was uh, tofu scramble and potatoes for me. It may have been more, but I forget my mornings mostly. I probably sat with some people. Possibly Elijah and Marcus or other friends. We probably talked about something silly. I very much remember morning meeting and advisee (that’s a lie). But I do know that we sang the Lake Day song in morning meeting because…. it’s Lake Day! I think we got Christian to perch on the plastic milk crates. I also think I laid on people. Oh! We played Cat’s Cradle, I just learned how to play it at camp. We pass it down the line of people at meetings.
In advisee I got “kidnapped” by my own advisee. Aka I was told “hey Jane can we kidnap you” as I was already walking up to advisee. Christian is my Advisor (YES I’ve always wanted them to be my advisor). We also kidnapped Leander and played hot seat with him. I also got to be in the hot seat and got asked random questions such as if you could train a chicken to use any weapon which would you choose? I chose nunchucks. After advisee it was time for superheroes, but I have a worktrade and so went into the kitchen and danced to music whilst taking muffins out of tins and wiping counters. I do my worktrade with a bunch of others, including the amazing cooks Talis and Louis (thank you guys for the food, I appreciate it so much 10/10 yumminess). I then ran across the field into the bush and over a bridge to my cabin; from there I snatched my towel and sunscreen because.. IT’S LAKE DAY!!!
As a part of my worktrade, I helped bring food down the hill to the lake. I ate a lot of mini muffins at the lake and drank a lot of lemonade, before shucking my shoes and socks and stowing my things under a table, because it was probably going to rain. I asked Christian to push me into the lake and they did. It was cold, but not as cold as the Oregon creek. Everyone then swam around and had fun. We played Never Have I Ever on the floating dock, but a version where when you relate to something you have to take a step back, and then – sploosh – you’re in the lake. I got targeted by the “Never Have I Ever lived in Canada” question. We also almost sunk the dock by all going to one side. The water went up to Rowan’s waist.
Leander, Marcus and I then swam out to save Kitty from her comfortable spot farther out in the lake. We pushed her floaty out of its peaceful, I mean… perilous place and back to the dock. Then I did some stretching on the dock and the sun came out from it’s rainy perch in the clouds. After that came Aubrie’s Pirate Adventure. We all got in canoes and paddled across the lake to get to a slide. Why did the canoe cross the lake? To get to the other slide. That was horrid, wow. I was in a boat with Syd and Maddy. We named ourselves the Bilingual Boiled Eggs because me and Maddy are trying to learn languages – me, French; Maddy, Japanese – and Syd loves to cook and was talking about boiling eggs. Turns out the slide was private property and so we sadly turned away and went on a confusing meander across the lake. It was so pretty. The trees so green and a bit yellow, the water took on their color and also the slate grey of the clouds.
We eventually came upon a fabled rope swing, which was private property between June 1st and September 1st so – we were just in time. We docked our boats and swam over to it. When I got up with the rope in my hand I was so scared, but I jumped and tucked my legs and it was super fun. And cold. So, so cold. Everyone’s teeth were chattering by the end of it. Scarlett went on the rope swing even though they said they were very nervous to!!! We stayed there for a few swings, and I went again even though Aubrie said the last person’s swing was the last one. Hehe. On the way back to the camp it started to sprinkle, and it got all foggy and ambient. Syd, Maddy and I canoed past the Tamarak campsite, the old Vermont site. Syd reminisced. We sang yo-ho like pirates.
Back at camp, we put the canoes away and did a lil dance in the rain before shivering back up the hill. I took a shower, but all the hot water was used up and it was kinda sad. I was not over cold though, surprisingly. I got into my warm jammies and went to the cozy lodge for the art show. I loved the art show. Especially since it was raining. It rained in Oregon and not it’s raining in Vermont and I’m learning how much I love rainy NBTSC days. It’s so calm and hugs feel even warmer. Everyone at the art show was so talented. Zoe JDP and I looked through Lily’s sketchbook and I think I’m always going to remember that moment. I got totally enraptured. It felt like sifting through a movie, all the drawings were so unique and yet cohesive. After, I took a moment to myself to sit and look at the rain.Then, DINNER!!!!!! God I was so hungry. I always am at camp. It was grilled cheese and tomato soup (vegan cheeze for yours truly). I sat with Syrus Elliot, Emery, Graham, Zoe W, Scarlett and Perry. We chatted and laughed and it was a really nice conversation. I feel like some conversations just flow and that one flowed. I haven’t had too much of that recently so that felt good.
Then, evening meeting, sitting warm in the Lodge, Rowan H’s head in my lap. Then, short film showing. I loved them all. Once again, everyone. Is. So. TALENTED!!I really enjoyed Eliza and Lily’s puppet movie, Ava and company’s noir film (I saw it in Oregon, and again here, it only gets better with more watches). Zoe JDP’s experimental style really pulled me in, too. For me, they were about Zoe, nature, and finding yourself in yourself and in the world. I didn’t stay to watch Spirited Away. Instead, I sat in the cozy lodge and giggled with Benevieve (Ben and Genevieve), Zoe JDP and Scarlett about hypothetically splitting a house by floor – one floor for each of us, cut a floor in half and crawl if we need more room – in Pittsburgh and eating only one meal a month to save money. Ben and Gen then filmed some of Scarlett’s bassoon playing. Then some freestyling on bassoon with Zoe JDP on piano (and me meekly on kalimba). I wandered around with the kalimba after and ended up chatting with Syrus in the kitchen. We started learning the Minecraft song. It was so warm in the kitchen. Finally, it was time for Jane to go to bed. As I stated, this was a busy day. And a good day. I’m really enjoying seeing what Vermont is like, all the camp things make me happy. Goodnight!
Jane, Camper